Sensation Seeking and Overconfidence in day traders: evidence from Brazil

Purpose - In this work, the authors conduct an online survey to evaluate how Sensation Seeking and Overconfidence influences the transaction volume of day traders in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach - The authors conducted a survey to gather the primary data. They applied linear regressions between the variables, and then the stepwise technique in order to eliminate the ones with the least explanatory power. Findings - The authors found that the aggregated trace Sensation Seeking did not positively influence the trading volume of day traders, but some of its facets did, like Thrill and Adventure Seeking and Boredom Susceptibility/Impulsivity. For the Overconfidence bias, only its Overplacement form showed a positive effect on the transaction volume of day traders, while Overestimation and Miscalibration did not. Originality/value - This is the first study that seeks to identify the relationship of Sensation Seeking and Overconfidence, considering their different facets and forms, in a more homogeneous sample of day traders, which have mostly speculative reasons for trading. Its results reveal the multidimensional characteristics of the Sensation Seeking and Overconfidence behavioral aspects and lighten some of the motivations for day traders to overtrade.